اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلاَّمُ الْغُيُوبِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ - (اذكر الأمر: تجديد المنزل) - خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - (أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ) - فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي، وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ. وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ - (اذكر الأمر: تجديد المنزل) - شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعِيشَتِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي - (أو قال: عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ) - فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي، وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ رَضِّنِي بِهِ.
O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge, and strength from Your power, and I ask for Your immense favour. For You have power, and I have no power; You have knowledge, and I have no knowledge; and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know that this matter – (mention the matter: renovating the house) – is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (or said: for my present and future affairs), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know that this matter – (mention the matter: renovating the house) – is evil for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my Hereafter (or said: for my present and future affairs), then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain for me whatever is good, and make me content with it.
Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi-'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr - (mention the matter: renovating the house) - khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - (or said: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr - (mention the matter: renovating the house) - sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri - (or said: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khayra haythu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.
When to Read
When you are faced with a decision, especially one as significant as a major renovation project for your home, and you are unsure which path is best. This dua is recited after performing two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer (Salatul Istikhara). It is recommended to do this when you have genuinely pondered the matter yourself and sought advice from others, but still feel uncertain.
How to Read
First, perform two rak'ahs of Salatul Istikhara. After completing the prayer, raise your hands (or keep them in your lap if preferred) and recite this dua, remembering to insert the specific matter you are seeking guidance for (e.g., 'this renovation of my house'). Ensure you are in a state of purity and face the Qiblah if possible. It is crucial to do this with sincere intention and complete reliance on Allah.
Virtues & Benefits
The Istikhara prayer and dua are a beautiful way to connect with Allah, acknowledging our limitations and His absolute knowledge and power. By performing Istikhara, we seek Allah's wisdom to guide us towards what is truly beneficial for us in this life and the next, preventing potential regret and leading us to contentment with His decree.
Source & Authentication
Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us the Istikhara prayer in all matters as he taught us the Surahs of the Qur'an. He said: 'If anyone of you is concerned about a matter, he should pray two rak'ahs of non-obligatory prayer and then say: 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi-'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlikal-'adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru wa la aqdir, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lam, wa anta 'allamul-ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr khayrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri (or said: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) - faqdurhu li, wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li feeh. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-amr sharrun li fi deeni wa ma'eeshati wa 'aqibati amri (or said: 'ajili amri wa ajilihi) - fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur li-l-khayra haythu kaana, thumma radhdhini bih.' And the Prophet (peace be upon him) added: 'And he should name his need.'